Author: Devin James

Senator McCrory Backs AI Safety Bill to Guard Families and Strengthen Connecticut’s Economic Future

Posted on by Devin James

Senator McCrory Backs AI Safety Bill to Guard Families and Strengthen Connecticut’s Economic Future

HARTFORD – Senator Doug McCrory (D-Hartford), Senate Chair of the Education Committee, today voted in favor of Senate Bill 5, legislation that protects Connecticut residents from AI harms through safeguards around AI chatbots and employment discrimination, while investing in workforce programs to prepare residents for an AI-driven economy.

“Connecticut small businesses, nonprofits, and working families in Hartford, Bloomfield, and Windsor are already navigating an economy being reshaped by AI, and most of them are doing it without the tools or the information they need to keep up,” Senator McCrory said. “This bill addresses both sides of that reality: it puts real protections in place so that no one, especially our young people, is harmed by an AI system that was never designed with their wellbeing in mind, and it makes sure our community has access to the training and resources to compete. Every child and every worker in this state deserves a fair shot at what comes next, and that is exactly what we are fighting for.”

Protection for Residents

The bill requires AI chatbot operators to make reasonable efforts to detect suicidal ideation or self-harm expressed by users and to respond with appropriate resources. It also requires employers to notify workers when AI is being used to make hiring and employment decisions, and prohibits employers from using AI tools that result in discriminatory outcomes.

These protections are especially urgent given how rapidly AI chatbots are being deployed without adequate safeguards. More than 70% of teenagers use AI companions, with about 50% doing so regularly, and there have been documented cases of chatbots encouraging and assisting minor users in attempting or completing suicide rather than directing them to mental health resources. Adults have been harmed as well. In Greenwich, a man killed his elderly mother and himself after an AI chatbot repeatedly validated his delusions and never directed him to mental health resources.

Empowering Connecticut’s Workforce

The bill also includes training and resources for nonprofits and small businesses to increase AI literacy, helping them apply efficiencies and compete in a quickly changing economy. Partnerships with the Department of Housing, the Labor Department, and the Secretary of State will connect residents to an AI Academy, equipping them with essential skills for a modern workplace. The bill also establishes an AI sandbox program to foster responsible innovation under appropriate regulatory oversight.

The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration prior to the legislative session’s May 6 deadline.

SENS. LOONEY, DUFF, CABRERA & LESSER WELCOME NEW INSURANCE REPORT ON PENALTIES FOR CT COMPANIES THAT DENY, DELAY MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR POLICYHOLDERS

Posted on by Devin James

SENS. LOONEY, DUFF, CABRERA & LESSER WELCOME NEW INSURANCE REPORT ON PENALTIES FOR CT COMPANIES THAT DENY, DELAY MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR POLICYHOLDERS

HARTFORD – Less than 10 months after Democrats passed a new law requiring state insurance companies to provide mental health parity to their policyholders or face steep fines, the first report on their compliance is out – and all five of the major Connecticut health carriers have been fined.

And the Senate Democrats who helped make this eye-opening report a reality are dismayed that their concerns and suspicions have been justified.

The Insurance Department’s new report finds that all five Connecticut insurance carriers – Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, Connecticare and UnitedHealthcare – failed to adequately connect policyholders with mental health treatment in the same way they do for medical and surgical treatment.

The Insurance Department also determined that:

  • Several insurance companies submitted reports that lacked details about case management, clinical auditing, and drug screening/testing;
  • There were “material operational disparities” affecting policyholder access to mental health and substance use disorder networks across all five insurance companies;
  • All five insurance companies maintained “non-comparative reimbursement rate methodologies” when compared to their medical and surgical reimbursement rates;
  • All five carriers need to strengthen their evaluation of unequal outcome data and identify corrective actions.

In 2019, the General Assembly passed a bill requiring more mental health parity from insurance companies. Last year, in 2025, Democrats passed Senate Bill 10, which requires health carriers to annually file a mental health parity compliance certification with the state Insurance Department, which then makes public a carrier’s compliance – or lack of compliance with Connecticut’s mental health parity laws. The 2025 bill also allows the Insurance Department to fine insurance companies up to a maximum of $625,000 if they fail to file these annual mental health compliance certifications.

“It has long been a fact that insurance companies are delaying and denying care for people who are paying for, and who need, mental health treatment. The problem grew so alarming that last year we passed S.B.10, a state Senate priority bill, because insurance companies had acted in bad faith since the passage of the 2019 bill,” said Senate President Martin Looney (D-New Haven). “Now we have documentation in a damning report that proves insurance companies are still not fully compliant with state law, and that they are being fined for their recalcitrance. I hope next year’s report is just as illuminating, but with a more positive outcome for those policyholders who need mental health or substance abuse treatment.”

“Mental health and substance abuse disorders should be treated no differently than a broken arm or an inflamed appendix. We worked long and hard in Connecticut to create parity between mental health and medical/surgical treatments, but insurance companies were always dragging their feet on implementing these very necessary changes,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk). “Thanks to the hard work of Senator Cabrera, Senator Lesser, and others, we’ve finally turned the corner and are shining a light on insurance company failures and holding them accountable financially and to the policyholders they serve. This is a long-overdue wake-up call for the industry.”

“In 2019 we had a good start. Senate Bill 10, passed last year, added monetary fines and ensured that we named names,” said state Senator Jorge Cabrera (D-Hamden), who as Senate Chair of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee oversaw passage of S.B. 10. “It was the right thing to do and, quite frankly, insurance companies should be ashamed of themselves for their actions. People are hurting. They need mental health care, and insurance companies are delaying and denying. Now we know who they are, and they are paying the price for their indifference.”

Mental health and substance abuse coverage is serious business. In 2019, I co-wrote Connecticut’s Mental Health Parity Law,” said state Senator Matt Lesser (D-Middletown). “Outrageously, insurance companies failed to follow the law. We amended the law last year to add fines and name names, and I am glad that Connecticut’s Insurance Department is enforcing the law. Connecticut residents and businesses pay a fortune for health insurance; insurance companies need to follow that law and provide the coverage that people are paying for.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kevin Coughlin | kevin.coughlin@cga.ct.gov | 203-710-0193

SENS. LOONEY, DUFF, CABRERA & LESSER WELCOME NEW INSURANCE REPORT ON PENALTIES FOR CT COMPANIES THAT DENY, DELAY MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR POLICYHOLDERS

Posted on by Devin James

SENS. LOONEY, DUFF, CABRERA & LESSER WELCOME NEW INSURANCE REPORT ON PENALTIES FOR CT COMPANIES THAT DENY, DELAY MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR POLICYHOLDERS

HARTFORD – Less than 10 months after Democrats passed a new law requiring state insurance companies to provide mental health parity to their policyholders or face steep fines, the first report on their compliance is out – and all five of the major Connecticut health carriers have been fined.

And the Senate Democrats who helped make this eye-opening report a reality are dismayed that their concerns and suspicions have been justified.

The Insurance Department’s new report finds that all five Connecticut insurance carriers – Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, Connecticare and UnitedHealthcare – failed to adequately connect policyholders with mental health treatment in the same way they do for medical and surgical treatment.

The Insurance Department also determined that:

  • Several insurance companies submitted reports that lacked details about case management, clinical auditing, and drug screening/testing;
  • There were “material operational disparities” affecting policyholder access to mental health and substance use disorder networks across all five insurance companies;
  • All five insurance companies maintained “non-comparative reimbursement rate methodologies” when compared to their medical and surgical reimbursement rates;
  • All five carriers need to strengthen their evaluation of unequal outcome data and identify corrective actions.

In 2019, the General Assembly passed a bill requiring more mental health parity from insurance companies. Last year, in 2025, Democrats passed Senate Bill 10, which requires health carriers to annually file a mental health parity compliance certification with the state Insurance Department, which then makes public a carrier’s compliance – or lack of compliance with Connecticut’s mental health parity laws. The 2025 bill also allows the Insurance Department to fine insurance companies up to a maximum of $625,000 if they fail to file these annual mental health compliance certifications.

“It has long been a fact that insurance companies are delaying and denying care for people who are paying for, and who need, mental health treatment. The problem grew so alarming that last year we passed S.B.10, a state Senate priority bill, because insurance companies had acted in bad faith since the passage of the 2019 bill,” said Senate President Martin Looney (D-New Haven). “Now we have documentation in a damning report that proves insurance companies are still not fully compliant with state law, and that they are being fined for their recalcitrance. I hope next year’s report is just as illuminating, but with a more positive outcome for those policyholders who need mental health or substance abuse treatment.”

“Mental health and substance abuse disorders should be treated no differently than a broken arm or an inflamed appendix. We worked long and hard in Connecticut to create parity between mental health and medical/surgical treatments, but insurance companies were always dragging their feet on implementing these very necessary changes,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk). “Thanks to the hard work of Senator Cabrera, Senator Lesser, and others, we’ve finally turned the corner and are shining a light on insurance company failures and holding them accountable financially and to the policyholders they serve. This is a long-overdue wake-up call for the industry.”

“In 2019 we had a good start. Senate Bill 10, passed last year, added monetary fines and ensured that we named names,” said state Senator Jorge Cabrera (D-Hamden), who as Senate Chair of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee oversaw passage of S.B. 10. “It was the right thing to do and, quite frankly, insurance companies should be ashamed of themselves for their actions. People are hurting. They need mental health care, and insurance companies are delaying and denying. Now we know who they are, and they are paying the price for their indifference.”

Mental health and substance abuse coverage is serious business. In 2019, I co-wrote Connecticut’s Mental Health Parity Law,” said state Senator Matt Lesser (D-Middletown). “Outrageously, insurance companies failed to follow the law. We amended the law last year to add fines and name names, and I am glad that Connecticut’s Insurance Department is enforcing the law. Connecticut residents and businesses pay a fortune for health insurance; insurance companies need to follow that law and provide the coverage that people are paying for.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kevin Coughlin | kevin.coughlin@cga.ct.gov | 203-710-0193

Senator McCrory Votes in Support of New Limits on ICE Conduct in Connecticut

Posted on by Devin James

Senator McCrory Votes in Support of New Limits on ICE Conduct in Connecticut

HARTFORD – Senator Doug McCrory (D-Hartford) today joined his Democratic state Senate colleagues in passing Senate Bill 397, legislation that would help reduce in Connecticut some of the horrific human rights and Constitutional abuses already committed by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in cities and towns across America.
The bill creates a pathway, often referred to as a “converse-1983 action,” for Connecticut citizens to sue ICE agents in state court if their Constitutional rights have been violated.
“The communities I represent in Hartford, Bloomfield, and Windsor are home to immigrant families who deserve to live without fear of unlawful detention or abuse,” Senator McCrory said. “When the federal government fails to hold agents accountable for violating people’s Constitutional rights, Connecticut must step in to do exactly that. This vote is about who we are as a state and what we are willing to do to protect the people who call Connecticut home.”

Since May of 2025, federal ICE agents have mounted an unprecedented national fear campaign of attacks on American citizens, including murder, kidnappings, assaults, violations of Constitutional rights, the vilification of all immigrants, and the politicized enforcement of the law.
Senate Bill 397 was first introduced in the Judiciary Committee on March 3 and had its public hearing on March 9, generating nearly 350 pieces of written testimony and 166 speakers during the 12.5-hour public hearing. The bill was widely supported, particularly by religious institutions.
S.B. 397:

  • Creates a private right of action in state court to sue federal, state, and local government actors when a person’s Constitutional rights are violated. This so-called “Converse-1983” provision is a term coined in 1987 that will allow court actions not currently available against federal agents.
  • Allows the state Attorney General to take swift action to seek an injunction or declaratory relief, and damages, when federal, state, or local government agents are violating a person’s Constitutional rights. With court approval, the Attorney General could acquire a temporary injunction in five days or less for ongoing violations.
  • Clarifies that the state Inspector General can investigate and prosecute state, local, and some federal agents for the unauthorized use of deadly force. The bill also gives the IG clear and unrestricted access to a crime scene when law enforcement uses deadly force, or when a person dies from the use of force.
  • Prohibits all law enforcement officers, federal, state, and local, from covering their faces, with some exceptions, and requires them to wear a badge or name tag.
  • Prohibits law enforcement, federal, state, or local, from arresting someone for a civil offense in a protected area unless there is a judicial warrant. This section takes effect October 1, 2026.
  • Eliminates a law enforcement officer’s immunity if they violate a person’s right to record law enforcement while committing assault, battery, false imprisonment, false arrest, abuse of process, or malicious prosecution.
  • Prevents law enforcement officers with less than 480 hours of training from becoming police officers in Connecticut. Federal ICE officers receive approximately 376 hours of training.

S.B. 397 also addresses the growing use of automated license plate reader systems (ALPR) to ensure that driver data is handled responsibly. The bill allows ALPRs to be used for plates on a “hot list,” but data cannot be held for more than 21 days without an active criminal investigation. License plate data cannot be used to determine race or ethnicity, any activity protected under the First Amendment, or suspected immigration status, and it protects facilities providing reproductive health care or gender-affirming care from fixed ALPR placement near their locations.

S.B. 397 now heads to the House of Representatives and, if passed, will be sent to Governor Ned Lamont for his signature. Most of its provisions take effect immediately.

TODAY: SENATE DEMOCRATS WILL PASS BILL REINING IN ICE ABUSES IN CONNECTICUT

Posted on by Devin James

TODAY: SENATE DEMOCRATS WILL PASS BILL REINING IN ICE ABUSES IN CONNECTICUT

Sue ICE agents in state court, ban masks, give AG and IG broad new powers; Bill also addresses responsible use of license plate readers

HARTFORD – Democratic state senators today will debate and pass Senate Bill 397, “AN ACT CONCERNING DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY,” that could help reduce in Connecticut some of the horrific human rights and Constitutional abuses already committed by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in multiple cities and towns across America.

In May 2025, Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered ICE to arrest up to 3,000 immigrants every day. Since then, rogue federal ICE agents have mounted an unprecedented national fear campaign of attacks on American citizens – including murder, kidnappings, assaults, violations of Constitutional rights, the vilification of all immigrants, and the politicized enforcement of the law.

Briefly, S.B. 397 creates a much-needed cause of action to sue federal officials that violate our constitutional rights; bans masks for federal, state, and local law enforcement, with some exceptions; gives Connecticut residents the best chance to convict federal officers who commit crimes by clarifying, expanding, and strengthening the authority of our state Inspector General; empowers Connecticut (through the Attorney General and the IG) to seek emergency injunctions against federal law enforcement that violate a person’s rights or obstruct an investigation; prohibits ICE arrests for civil offenses in sensitive areas like schools, hospitals and places of worship; and ensures that lightly-trained ICE agents do not become police officers in Connecticut.

S.B. 397 also tackles the growth of government use (not just by law enforcement) of automated license plate reader systems (ALPR) to ensure that driver data is being handled in a responsible way and not abused by those with bad intent. The bill allows ALPRs to be used for license plates on a “hot list,” but data cannot be held for more than 21 days without an active criminal investigation. License plate data cannot be used to determine race/ethnicity; any activity protected under the First Amendment; suspected immigration status; reproductive health care or gender affirming care; and it protects facilities that provide the above from having a fixed ALPR near them so that patients cannot be tracked for receiving care.

S.B. 397 will be debated, voted on, and passed today in the state Senate. All but one of its sections become effective upon its signature into law.

“There was not a single Republican vote in the Judiciary Committee in favor of the ICE bill, which is absolutely critical to the health of our state and our democracy. In my opinion this is the most consequential bill that the General Assembly has addressed so far this session,” said Senate President Martin Looney (D-New Haven). “Despite our decades-long reputation as a moderate and somewhat politically bipartisan state, I think the Republican Senate Caucus will be hard-pressed today to vote against this bill and still be able to claim that they are not completely aligned with Donald Trump’s MAGA movement.”

“After the murder of Renee Good in Minneapolis in early January, Senate Democrats vowed that we’d work on legislation to prevent these types of ICE abuses in Connecticut. Today we’re keeping that promise,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk). “We’ve researched these legal issues for months; they’re as airtight as you can get. Once again, state government is proving to be the solution to the problem that is the federal abuse of individual rights. Now it’s gut-check time for the Senate Republican MAGA Caucus. Where do they stand? With Donald Trump and his modern-day brownshirts? Or with the people of Connecticut? Let’s see how they vote.”

“This bill is bigger than just the letters on the page,” said Senator Gary Winfield (D-New Haven), the Senate Chair of the Judiciary Committee who helped write the bill. “The conversation we’re having today is not really about the bill. It’s really about us. We’ve acted over the course of the current Trump administration as if it’s okay to violate people’s rights, as if it’s okay to use the concept of law to obviate justice. This bill is about, who are we as a people? Who are we as a democracy? That’s what this bill is about.”

Senate Bill 397 was first introduced in the Judiciary Committee on March 3, and had its public hearing on March 9, generating nearly 350 pieces of written testimony and 166 speakers during the 12.5-hour public hearing. The bill was widely supported, particularly by religious institutions.

S.B. 397:

  • Creates a private right of action in state court to sue federal, state, and local government actors when a person’s Constitutional rights are violated. This so-called “Converse-1983” provision is a term coined in 1987 that will allow court actions not currently available today against federal agents.
  • Allows the state Attorney General to take swift action to seek an injunction or declaratory relief, and damages, when federal, state, or local government agents are violating a person’s constitutional right. With court approval, the state Attorney General could acquire a temporary injunction in five days or less for ongoing violations or a policy that would violate a person’s Constitutional rights.
  • Clarifies that the state Inspector General can investigate and prosecute state, local, and some federal agents for the unauthorized use of deadly force. The bill also gives the IG clear and unrestricted access to a crime scene when law enforcement uses deadly force, or when a person dies from the use of force, and allows for a temporary injunction allowing the IG access to investigate and collect evidence.
  • Prohibits all law enforcement officers — federal, state, local — from covering their faces, albeit with some exceptions. The bill also requires them to wear a badge or name tag.
  • Prohibits law enforcement — federal, state, or local — from arresting someone for a civil offense in a protected area, unless there is a judicial warrant. This section takes effect October 1, 2026.
  • Eliminates a law enforcement officer’s immunity if they violate a person’s right to record law enforcement while committing assault, battery, false imprisonment, false arrest, abuse of process, or malicious prosecution.
  • Prevents law enforcement officers with less than 480 hours of training from becoming police officers in Connecticut (federal ICE officers receive about 376 hours of training).

After passing in the Senate, S.B. 397 will be debated and passed in the House of Representatives and signed into law by Governor Ned Lamont. Most all of its provisions take effect immediately.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kevin Coughlin | kevin.coughlin@cga.ct.gov | 203-710-0193

SENATOR OSTEN UNVEILS BRONZE PLAQUE TO COMMEMORATE AMERICAN SOLDIER POWS AND MISSING IN ACTION

Posted on by Devin James

SENATOR OSTEN UNVEILS BRONZE PLAQUE TO COMMEMORATE AMERICAN SOLDIER POWS AND MISSING IN ACTION

HARTFORD – State Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague), a Vietnam-era Army veteran and an American Legion Post commander, today helped unveil a new memorial bronze plaque in the veterans’ memorial area of the state Legislative Office Building that commemorates those American soldiers who are either missing in action or considered prisoners of war.

According to the U.S. Department of War (formerly the Department of Defense), more than 80,000 American service personnel are listed as either missing or prisoners of war from previous conflicts, and 38,000 of those are estimated to be recoverable. About 41,000 are listed as missing at sea.

“At our American Legion Post 85 in Baltic, every single meeting starts with a recognition of those who are still missing in action and those who are still prisoners of war from any of the conflicts that we’ve had,” Sen. Osten said. “It takes a lot of humility to accept that we haven’t brought everybody home yet. But I think it’s important to let people know that even though not every soldier is home yet, we are thinking of them. remembering them, and honoring them, and that’s exactly what this plaque will do.”

The nonprofit American Ex-Prisoners of War has designed and fabricated a series of bronze commemorative plaques that it is donating to each participating Capitol building in America to raise awareness of American POWs and those missing in action.

“Our project is to raise visibility and awareness, and it leads to the respect and honor that all our veterans deserve,” said  AMEXPOW CEO Charles Susino. “We are honored by the warm welcome we received here from Connecticut, we’re honored that our plaque is here, and the people of Connecticut need to be proud of what you’ve all done.”

Senator Lopes Leads Senate Passage of Legislation to Protect Domestic Violence Survivors and their Pets

Posted on by Devin James

Senator Lopes Leads Senate Passage of Legislation to Protect Domestic Violence Survivors and their Pets

Today, state Senator Rick Lopes (D-New Britain), Chair of the Environment Committee, led Senate passage of a multifaceted bill that supports domestic violence survivors, strengthens the State Veterinarian’s authority to protect animal health, and works to stabilize funding for Connecticut’s animal population control program.

Senate Bill 318, “An Act Concerning Animal Welfare”, helps ensure survivors are not forced to choose between safety and their pets.

“When someone is trying to escape an abusive home, they can be impeded by what might happen to their family pet,” said Senator Rick Lopes. “But that’s exactly what’s happening. People are staying in dangerous, sometimes life-threatening situations because they just can’t find a safe place for their pet and they refuse to leave them behind. This bill takes the first step toward making sure that when someone picks up the phone to get help, there’s an answer on the other end that covers their pet too, not just them.”

Protecting Domestic Violence Survivors and Their Pets
Research has well documented that domestic violence survivors are more likely to remain in dangerous situations when they have no safe option for their companion animals.

Shelter space that accommodates both survivors and their pets remains extremely limited across Connecticut. Senate Bill 318 addresses this gap directly.

The legislation directs the Department of Agriculture (DoAg), in consultation with the Office of Victim Services, to conduct a study on the impact that the need to place companion animals has on victims of domestic violence. The study will examine existing resources available to survivors seeking temporary or permanent placement for their pets, identify contact persons who can assist survivors in placing their animals, and evaluate the feasibility of establishing a 24-hour phone or electronic hotline dedicated to helping domestic violence victims find care for their companion animals.

The legislation builds on the work of organizations like Companions in Crisis, a Connecticut-based nonprofit that helps secure temporary shelter for the pets of domestic violence victims, and was developed with the strong support of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV).

Strengthening the State Veterinarian’s Authority
Senate Bill 318 also includes a technical fix requested by the Department of Agriculture that expands the State Veterinarian’s authority to issue orders preventing the spread of disease among animals and poultry. Current law limits such orders to contagious and infectious diseases. This definition has created difficulty in addressing diseases that fall outside those specific classifications. The bill broadens this authority to cover any disease, ensuring Connecticut is better equipped to respond swiftly to emerging animal health threats.

Studying Animal Population Control Program Funding
The bill will require the Department of Agriculture to convene a working group to study Connecticut’s animal population control program and develop recommendations to augment and stabilize its funding.

This provision reflects a broader commitment to ensuring Connecticut has the resources necessary to address animal overpopulation in a sustainable, long-term way.

Senate Bill 318 is supported by the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence. In their testimony, Liza Andrews, the VP of Government & Public Relations at the CT CADV said, “Abusers frequently use survivors’ attachment to pets as a method of coercion to stay in the relationship. Threatening, neglecting, and harming pets is a commonly cited tactic used to intimidate and force compliance from survivors. Second, for many survivors, companion animals are not simply pets; they are family members, emotional support, and sometimes the only form of stability and comfort during times of extreme trauma and crisis. When considering leaving, survivors often face an impossible choice. Do they leave for safety and abandon an animal they love? Or do they stay, risking their own safety?”

This bill creates an infrastructure for assisting survivors with placement of their pets by directing the State Veterinarian to identify one or more contact persons who are accessible 24/7 and who will coordinate with animal rescue organizations or animal control facilities that are available to serve as a location for placement of a survivor’s companion animal on a temporary or permanent basis.

The bill now heads to the House of Representatives.

Senator Gaston Leads Senate Passage of Bill Closing Loophole on Armed School Security

Posted on by Devin James

Senator Gaston Leads Senate Passage of Bill Closing Loophole on Armed School Security

Today, state Senator Herron Keyon Gaston (D-Bridgeport), Chair of the Public Safety and Security Committee, led Senate passage on a bill that will close a critical loophole that previously enabled officers dismissed from law enforcement for serious misconduct to serve as armed security personnel in Connecticut’s public schools.

Senate Bill 402, “An Act Revising the Definition of “Retired Police Officer” for Purposes of Certain Provisions Regarding School Security Services”, revises the definition of “retired police officer” for the purposes of certain provisions regarding school security services.

“Every child who walks through the doors of a public school deserves to be safe and that means we must hold those entrusted with their protection to a high standard,” said Senator Gaston. “This bill ensures that officers who were dismissed or stepped aside under a cloud of serious misconduct cannot find a back door into our schools. We will not let bad actors slip through the cracks.”

Under current Connecticut law, police departments are prohibited from hiring an officer who was previously employed in another jurisdiction and was dismissed for malfeasance or serious misconduct that called into question their fitness to serve, or who resigned or retired while under investigation for such conduct.

SB 402 extends that same standard to the school security context by disqualifying any individual who is prohibited from being hired by a law enforcement unit from being eligible to provide armed school security services in a public school as a retired police officer.

Prior to this legislation, a retired or separated officer who would be ineligible for rehire by any law enforcement agency due to a history of misconduct could nonetheless be placed in an armed security role in a Connecticut public school. SB 402 closes that gap, creating consistent accountability standards across both law enforcement hiring and school safety.

SB 402 has earned the support of the Connecticut State Department of Education. In their testimony, Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker stated, “School safety is a high priority of the Department. Ensuring that those adults working in our schools and trusted with the safety of our students, school staff and families are qualified to carry out such duties is paramount.”

The bill will now head to the House of Representatives.

Looney, Duff & Honig Call on Federal Government to Restore Home Loan Protections for Veterans

Posted on by Devin James

Looney, Duff & Honig Call on Federal Government to Restore Home Loan Protections for Veterans

HARTFORD — Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney, Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, and Senate Chair of the Veterans’ and Military Affairs Committee Paul Honig today condemned the federal government’s abrupt cancellation of a key VA home loan assistance program that has left more than 10,000 veterans across the country facing foreclosure, and called for an immediate restoration of protections for veterans.

“Reports that more than 10,000 veterans have lost their homes since the federal government abruptly shut down a key program are deeply troubling. The federal government ignored warnings from the mortgage industry that veterans would be kicked out of their homes. We find it unfathomable that federal elected officials would not do everything in their power to support those who served our country. We ask all our colleagues in the General Assembly to join us in calling on the federal government to immediately fix this injustice and give veterans the protections they deserve. We owe them that much, and more.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kevin Coughlin | kevin.coughlin@cga.ct.gov | 203-710-0193

Posted on by Devin James

GAE COMMITTEE ADVANCES ELECTION PROTECTION BILLS

Measures aim to prevent election interference and voter intimidation

HARTFORD – On its final day for bill action in the 2026 legislative session, the Government Administration & Elections Committee has advanced a series of bills to protect Connecticut elections by preventing interference or intimidation of voters.

GAE Senate Chair Senator Mae Flexer and GAE House Chairman Representative Matt Blumenthal (D-Stamford) co-authored, sponsored, or introduced these measures to ensure the sacred right to vote is safeguarded without fear at home or at the polls.

House Bill 5533 and Senate Bill 463 “AN ACT CONCERNING PROTECTION OF ELECTION ADMINISTRATION PROCESSES, ELECTIONS SITES, ELECTION WORKERS AND ELECTORS” fights back against threats from President Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans to “nationalize” and “take over” our elections. The bill would:

  • Bar federal law enforcement within 250 feet of a polling place without permission from state election officials or a court order
  • Require coordination with the Connecticut Secretary of the State and the Attorney General before federal agents conduct operations near a polling place
  • Establish state penalties for violations to ensure protections are taken seriously

House Bill 5001 “AN ACT CONCERNING ABSENTEE VOTING FOR ALL AND VARIOUS OTHER REFORMS TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS” would implement Absentee Voting For All two years after Connecticut voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment. The measure would allow eligible voters to request an absentee ballot without providing a reason. Currently, absentee ballots are limited to voters who meet specific criteria. Removing those restrictions will make voting more accessible, increase participation, and ensure voters have safe and flexible options for casting their ballots.

House Bill 5342  AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND OTHER MEANS TO GENERATE DECEPTIVE SYNTHETIC MEDIA AND AFFECT ELECTION addresses a growing threat to elections: AI-generated “deepfake” videos, images, and audio used to spread misinformation about candidates. The bill would:

  • Prohibit deceptive AI-generated media intended to influence an election
  • Apply to manipulated videos, audio, or images that falsely depict a candidate
  • Covers the 90 days leading up to an election or primary, when misinformation can have the biggest impact

“Maintaining American democracy is a top concern among voters in national polls, and for good reason – the Trump administration has been working overtime to gerrymander voting districts, re-write voting rules, steal ballots, and repeatedly cast doubt on elections where Republicans lose. It’s an outrageous assault on America’s free and fair elections. In Connecticut, we have been working diligently to improve access to democracy,” Sen. Flexer said.

 

“Our elections are under attack like never before. On Friday, we took strong action to protect voters and voting rights said Rep. Blumenthal. “These measures will help prevent intimidation at the polls by anyone — including the federal government. They expand access to absentee voting. They crack down on deceptive deepfakes. They help ensure that every eligible voter can make their voice heard without fear or interference. As our 250th anniversary of independence approaches, they will help preserve our democracy for generations to come.”

 

With approval from the GAE Committee, all three of the measures move to the House floor for further consideration if they are called before the end of session on May 6.